Historica, Conservatives both come out okay in Heritage Minute dust-up

By Tim PowersFeb. 6, 2019

The party got a load of free advertising, while the heritage group got a chance to remind people of its mission.

An image from the parody Heritage Minute ad the Conservatives released on the weekend, in its initial changed form, after blowback from the maker of the historical ads. Screengrab courtesy of the CBC

You could be forgiven if those old Heritage Minutes, seen most often on that dated medium of television, had slipped into the recesses of your mind. Not unlike the vintage National Film Board vignettes, my personal favourite being The Log Driver’s Waltz, these stories generate some warmth in a sentimental Canadian heart.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.